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Group Sibuet - Romantic French Hotels- Part 2

Jocelyn and Jean Louis Sibuets latest hotel venture is the Villa Marie located in the mountains right above St. Tropez, France. The original hotel located on the property was a run down wreck when the Sibuets purchased the complex. As always, Jean Louis was in charge of the renovations, while Jocelyn took care of the decorating and today the once run down hotel is now rated first class. Nestled in the pine tree hills above the coast, the hotel is perfect for those who want to be near the bustling tourist area, but crave a more private base away from the crowds. The hotel, located in the quaint area of Ramatuelle, overlooks the Baie de Pampelonne, and is a quick mile away from the playground of hip Saint-Tropez. Movie stars and socialites are flocking to the four year old Villa Marie for its quiet seclusion and very romantic atmosphere.

Among the changes made to the hotel by Jean Louis is a restaurant and a bar area. He also created an outdoor dining terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean. A swimming pool was built, fashioned out of the rocky hillside. The guest rooms were knocked down to their studs and rebuilt with a most unique floorplan: the bathroom is exposed and is the first area encountered when entering the room, the bedroom area is next leading to a private balcony in most rooms. Each guest room has unique furnishings - no two rooms are alike. Jocelyne, famous for her keen design sense, does not disappoint here. The hotel is quaint, the grounds are gorgeous. The Sibuets have planted thousands of trees to add to the lush Provencal style landscaping. Rows of lavender line the gravel drive leading into the hotel and hydrangeas are planted throughout the property. Cacti and other succulents are also plentiful. The hotel boasts a spa with two log cabins built in the pine woods for more private treatment rooms.

The food is excellent, though quite expensive, as each review I read made a point of saying. A single bottle of water is 10 euros - and this was taken from a two year old review!!!! The staff gets consistently rave reviews for friendliness and attentiveness. Reviewers state that the hotel looks as great in person as on the web site, something that isn't always the case. A four star rated hotel, this one is another hit for the Group Sibuet and it looks absolutely wonderful to me!

Jocelyne Sibuet, Hotel Villa Marie owner and interior designer.

The main building is an ochre colored stucco. The garden paths surrounding the hotel are gravel. The complex sits in a pine forest, though the Sibuets have planted thousands of trees of different varieties.

The same view, at dusk, where votives in lanterns light the paths. Notice the beautiful iron balconies and the terra cotta roof.

At at night, fully lighted and so romantic.

Stacked limestone was used for the retaining walls, adding to the French Provencal charm. Huge pine trees and cypress dot the landscape.

The view of the ocean from the swimming pool.

One side of the swimming pool was carved out of the rock.

The other side is a wooden deck.

Outside dining overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean.

Another outside dining spot amid the lavender and cypress trees. The bright stucco hotel can be seen in the background. So Provencal!

A greenhouse added next to the main hotel is stocked with various succulents.

Fresh towels delivered to rooms next to a unique fountain in the gardens.

Jean Louis built the bar with glass walls that open to the fresh air. Seagrass furniture with white cushions and turquoise pillows complete the decor. This room was designed to simulate the feel of being on a boat at sea, as the bar overlooks the ocean.

Jean Louis decorated the bar with shells placed one by one by hand.

The dining room is also a new building added to the complex by Jean Louis. Notice the iron dining room chairs used here. They are very vintage and romantic in feel.

A corner of the dining room, overlooking the grounds.

Jean Louis designed this terrace adjoining the dining room for outdoor meals. Lanterns provide soft lighting. The food gets excellent ratings at the hotel, the prices do not!

The Spa. Besides these treatment rooms, additional rooms are located in the woods in newly built log cabins. Again, vintage style iron furniture mixed with Louis XV chairs, lend a decidedly romantic feel to the decor.

Dining on the arched terrace. I love this outdoor furniture - it also looks vintage. Pots of hydrangeas line the half walls. Wisteria hangs from the roof. The tiled floor is terra cotta.

A close up of the hydrangea plants that are growing throughout the property. Notice the lovely opaque blue plates that this table is set with. Just beautiful!

The arched stucco walkway leads to the lobby and main living areas of the hotel.

The main living area is furnished with an Italian styled tete-a-tete and banquettes. Notice the beautiful armoire doors built into the walls. The black wood mantel is decorated with shells and sea fans. To the right is the open aired dining area.

A view of the opposite side of the open air lobby.

A vignette that Jocelyne is famous for. Here shell filled urns sit next to coral. I love the way the lantern is placed leaning against the wall.

Another vignette in the lobby area. A large shell encrusted mirror sits behind two caned French chairs.

And another vignette, this time a large console is set with shells inside glass apothecary jars.

More hydrangeas. Notice the iron balconies and the lanterns on the wall behind.

Each of the 42 guest rooms are decorated differently. Here bright red and white striped fabric was used. In most of the rooms, the bathroom walls were removed and they were left open to the sleeping area. Additionally, balconies were added to many rooms.

In this room, an iron four poster bed was used. Again, the bathtub is open to the bedroom, partially closed off by linen curtains.

This room was decorated using hydrangea inspired colors. Though the headboard looks as if it was created out of molding nailed to the walls - a great idea to incorporate in one's own home - it's wood is actually painted the same color as the walls.

The other side of the hydrangea colored guest room. Notice the beautifully carved crown molding.

This guest room was decorated using pale blue striped fabric. In many rooms the lamps were created out of urns.

More vintage inspired iron furniture used in one of the guest rooms.

This guest room has an iron four poster dressed in white linens. A patterned fabric was used for the curtains. An antique drop leaf desk doubles as a night stand.

Vessels sinks were used in this bath area. The small pendant lights are adorable!

A deep blue color was used in this room along with purple. An antique console doubles as a night stand in this guest room.

A close up of the free standing tub in the middle of this guest room. All toilets are actually behind closed doors for privacy. Whew! I was worried about that!!!!

And one final guest room - here you can see the wonderful terra cotta tiled floors that are used in many of the rooms. Seagrass rugs are placed underneath the beds only.

A map showing the proximity of the Villa Marie to St. Tropez.

Question: How would you feel about a guest room with the bathroom exposed as these are here? Would it matter to you? Would you be comfortable in such a room? Is this something that Europeans are more acclimated to than Westerners? I think that, for myself, I would prefer to have a closed bathtub (and a shower at that!) Even sharing the room with just my husband, I'm not sure I'm all that ready to watch him bathe and vice versa!

50 comments
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ah i want a book on this place . It is one if the most beautiful places I have seen,who cares about the tub in the bedroom send the hubby for a walk!! Draw the curtains I love an open tub in a bed room. I want this room all to myself...

Maybe I'm a bit more open to it (the open tub) than others - but I don't think I'd mind. Granted, that be with only Scott in the room, if I were sharing with anyone else - I'd be a little, ummm, shy. :) Another fantastic post!

Another great job Joni!!!!!As for the bathroom/bedroom combo...the answer is NO! I wouldn't like it at all. I prefer a shower and love my privacy! Sometimes a woman just needs a retreat away from EVERYONE! LOL

No open baths ever! Unless you're alone! Not only do I not want to see anyone else bathe, and I don't want anyone else to see me bathe LOL!!!It must be something to do with my more mature years ha ha, because when I was younger, taking a bath with a lover was fun!BTW do you think hotels.com has a deal on these places?! I really want to go!

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! The lavender, the hydrangeas, the furnishings - just amazing.I'm like you on the bathrooms - I do believe I'd want it in a separate room. :) Thanks for sharing with us!

If we were on our honeymoon, of course the tub in the middle of the room would be welcome! But 15 years later?? I think everyone can appreciate a moment of peace and privacy at that point :) Great post, Joni. Makes me want to lounge around and drink lots of wine. (Hey, maybe then that tub wouldn't seem like such a bad idea after all!)

I am so in love with succulents, so I think that room is so fantastic. The pool carved out of the rock is incredible. About the tubs...first thought was 'private' and then I thought, if you were fortunate enough to stay there, then you better relax and let loose.

I'm glad you included the map. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to get there. :-) I'm trying to decide what I love best. The gorgeous bedrooms, the view from the pool area or the shell-encrusted bar. It's all just gorgeous!

That huge shell encrusted mirror is to die for, the gigantic black mantle..perfect! I could go on and on, girl- you know your stuff. I, for one appreciate all the eyecandy I get here. After all of that very un-fun financial difficulty I watched like a slow death today, it was just the pick me up I needed. -a little like foreplay, joni.Thanks--- I needed that!Lisacoastal nest

Joni, I love that you posed the question about the exposed bathroom; I was pondering the same thing as I scrolled down through the photos! I wouldn't mind the open bath, but, like some others, I'd prefer if les toilettes were enclosed :)

I think I would prefer a more private bathroom, but for a vacation in a place as gorgeous as this, I could probably adjust for awhile. Love those vessel sinks and pendant lights.

I wanted to let you know that I finally got my blog moved to its own domain over the weekend. I'm now at http://hookedonhouses.net. If you don't mind changing the link on your blogroll, I'd really appreciate it. To say thanks, I'm having a drawing on Friday for all of the bloggers who update my links by then (I'm giving away an Amazon gift certificate).

Another great post....I'm with stljoie...candles, chocolate,bottle of veuve clicquot, a little frenchy music...and I'm 30 yrs into this marriage..remember Joni age is not a chronological thing. yes I do prefer the pottee behind the doors.TEXAS FRANCOPHILE

How the heck do you find these wonderful places and Gorgeous photos! The place looks simply divine. I'm totally ok with an open bathtab area with a small screen. Living in Japan and their naked hot spring culture desensitized me hahahha. It's so cool that all of the rooms are individually designed and different.

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